NORML’s Deputy Director Paul Armentano:
In August I commented on House Speaker Nancy Pelosi’s revealing interview with CNN, where she called on the public to actively voice their support for marijuana law reform.
“We have important work to do outside the Congress in order for us to have success inside the Congress.” Pelosi said. “[W]e need peoples’ help to be in touch with their members of Congress to say why this (marijuana law reform) should be the case.”
Ask and you shall receive.
In the past few months the public has taken their message to the hallowed halls of Washington, DC in unprecedented numbers:
Over 700 individuals have posted comments to The Hill.com’s influential Congress Blog calling on lawmakers to amend federal marijuana policy;
In December, a question calling for the legalization of marijuana bested over 7,300 public policy issues to claim the top spot in Change.gov’s inaugural ‘Open for Questions’ poll;
In a follow up poll conducted by Change.gov this month, marijuana law reformed was the eighth-most popular question voted on by the public, out of a staggering 76,000 issues.
This week, the question “legalize the medicinal and recreational use of marijuana” finished first (by nearly 5,000 votes) in Change.org’s inaugural “Ideas for Change’ online poll.
And finally, in yet a third poll hosted by the Obama Transition Team, the public’s call for “ending marijuana prohibition” is — you guessed it — polling ahead of all other issues. (To participate in this latest poll, please visit: http://citizensbriefingbook.change.gov and click on “popular ideas.”)
In short Madam Speaker, the people have done their part — just as you requested. The question now is: When are your colleagues and the incoming administration going to do their part to end the federal government’s war on marijuana consumers?
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Help stamp out terrorism and gangs, while creating millions of desperately needed jobs—- DECRIMINALIZE MARIJUANA . A regulated medicinal/recreational cannabis industry alone is worth multiple billions of taxed income.
Beyond pot- 1000′s of other uses from paper and textiles to food and fuel. Raw materials for paper and construction, fabric for clothing, bio-fuels for energy, oils, etc…. All to be grown by American farmers, manufactured into products by American workers, sold world-wide, creating JOBS. MILLIONS OF REAL, LEGAL, NON-OUTSOURCED, TAX-PAYING, AMERICAN JOBS.
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After 40 years, the U.S. War on Drugs has cost over $1 TRILLION and over 100,000 lives wasted? Drug use is rampant and violence widespread. Take the money off the black market. Drug plants (coca, poppy) cost less to grow than lettuce. The illegality makes the insane profits and corruption. No illegal money-No incentive.
Protect children- get drugs off the streets- End the DRUG WAR. Re-legalize Cannabis. De-Glamorize hard drugs, put them in clinics with Doctors in sterile, clean, places, and offered treatment, not jail and drug courts. Bad, violent people, on drugs /alcohol or not, still go to jail, in now spacious prisons.
A sensible drug policy would be the sane and safer approach and produce jobs.
Our marijuana Laws in Florida ARE EXTREMELY HARSH. We need reform NOW, Marijuana is a plant that grows in large quantities and is spread throughout the US, like butter on toast. Now seeing as this plant is really an such “issue” and the system we are on at the moment isn’t working, then that must really tell you something. “If you can’t beat em, join em” We as a state should not only make it for medical use, because that will certainly bring you more problems, but tax it and regulate it. Because of the governments false information about marijuana people thought they were lying about heroin too. Will Guess what Government, You’ve just installed
1 million heroin addicts into the system. That aside, what my point is is that we need to let people really know that true about how marijuana usage has only killed 0 people. Studies in other countries, who have marijuana form laws have shown a reduction in marijuana users, look it up yourself. I’m speaking my mind here today because I am truly upset with having to pay $1250 for .8 grams on weed. ARE YOU FUCKIN KIDDIN ME
(POINT.8) MUST I BE MORE CLEAR seriously if you don’t call that corruption then i don’t know what is.
she should push it. marijuana has never killed anyone and is less harmful than hookah, which is entirely legal. there should be an age limit, like there is on alcohol. but it shouldn’t be completely illegal. too many people are busted for having something that truly isn’t that harmful.. it’s like the prohibition age. everyone was a criminal in the 1920s because everyone secretly had alcohol. the legalization of marijuana simply means less crime in america.
I sat down this evening to write out some thoughts on what Ms. Pelosi has (or has not) been doing in congress. I was pleasantly surprised to see that she supports marijuana reform. I was not surprised to see that it’s merely a quick talking point for her and she’s moved on to easier issues. I truly don’t care for Ms. Pelosi, but I do see her as someone who should have the influence to make these marijuana law changes a reality. After all, she just helped Mr. Obama spend $800 billion.
Give them a chance to catch up to us, they have a different time zone in D.C.!!!!
Our voice is still meek. 10K votes on Change.gov, 19K votes on Change.com. I’d bet my bottom dollar that there are more Medical MJ patients in CA than that. We still can’t seem to get out of the closet. Many of my friends refuse to get involved because of their wish to “keep low”. We have a golden chance in the next 2 years, but can we convince our cowardly brethren to find their voice? Laws are written by those who show up..
Thanks Russ and NORML for helping me find my voice.
Well, trying to pin down Speaker Nancy “The days of the blank check for the president and this war are over” Pelosi for her statement on marijuana law reform might be a tough target, but yes.
When Paul lands this piece in The Hill blog, she and all her House will be reading it, too…
Are you saying Pelosi is our next target, with this question????? Or maybe you already sent this to her????